Notable web postings - May 2018
Continued from Notable web postings April 2018
Older notable web postings are collected at Notable web postings archival
Concerts this month:
This month (May 2018), Nobu reunites with maestros Ashkenazy and Petrenko (& the RLPO) in Japan, with whom he has just finished performing overseas.
May 3&4 The 2018 Kanazawa "Spring Green Festival" with conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa (OEK)
May 3 Thursday 18:10, Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21
May 4 Friday 10:00, Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 26 Coronation.
RLPO 2018 Japan Tour a great success. Congratulations to Conductor Petrenko,the orchestra, Nobu, & violinist Fumiaki Miura!
♪ May 25 Professor Kawakami won't be in St. Petersburg :-(
In his most recent post titled "Nobuyuki Tsujii, Kapustin, etc.", Mr. Kawakami wrote that sadly, his own busy schedule does not allow him to travel to St. Petersburg with Nobu.
He has other interesting things to say, including that the concerto that Nobu will perform in St. Petersburg has not yet been decided [even though the concert program says Beethoven "Emperor"].
http://www.masahiro-kawakami.com/blog/index.php?e=906
[Translated from Japanese]
[Nobu] also had an offer from Mr. Gergiev of St. Petersburg and decided in a hurry to travel to Russia in the second half of June. This time I also wanted to follow, but my schedule is absolutely impossible and I am very sorry. Avex managers [this must be Mr. Asano :-) also said, "Mr. Kawakami [please join us], because Mr. Tsujii s will play Kapustin." The performance was not in his plan because the invitation comes from Mr. Gergiev. It is not yet decided which work will be the piano concerto co-starring with Tsujii-san this time, so he must prepare for every work in his repertoir. Perhaps the work will be specified several days before the actual performance. Still, Mr. Gergiev seems to be particularly gentle with him, and it seems that his requests made for Russian artists are more demanding. (Manager's talk.)
However, although it seems that many people misunderstand by just looking at Gergiev from afar, he is truly a humane and very gentle person when we met actually. I wrote somewhere before, but the gap between the general impression of that maestro and the actual human Gergiev is extraordinary. I was really surprised. He has a wonderful personality. He is one of the people I admire from the bottom of my heart.
I really do not have such opportunities often, so I would like to go to Russia with him in conjunction with his concert, but still it is impossible. In fact, at the same time violinist fFumiaki Miura will also be in St. Petersburg for a concert, and his schedule is not known to eitherr Avex nor Tsujii (work from another route?), So Mr. Miura is also among a really wide network of people who are doing great things in the world.
At least, it is true that Mr. Tsujii will be playing in the recital the whole set of Kaputsin's "Opus 40 Eight Etudes for Concerts" in Saint Petersburg. Perhaps he will play it in other cities in Russia. In addition, he is scheduled to play these etudes at recitals in August in France and German . I am also happy that he is spreading Kapustin to the world.
In closing, Mr. Kawakami mentions that a decision to hold another "Kapustin Festival" in Japan in 2019 has been made, and he would like to see many players [Nobu included?] at the festival.
[Mr. K. is involved with the festival's organization, although Nobu was not in the first one held in 2017/2018.]
♪ May 27 A mention in the Japan Times
Nobu got a mention in the @JapanTimes (May 27 2018), in interview of Ambassador of Iceland to Japan, Elin Flygenring
"She also hopes to raise Iceland’s cultural profile during her term. Music-lovers are in for a treat in November, when the Iceland Symphony Orchestra will be performing a series of concerts with Vladimir Ashkenazy, world-renowned pianist and conductor. Popular Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii will be joining them."
♪ How Professor Masahiro Kawakami taught Nobuyuki Tsujii
https://the-liberty.com/article.php?item_id=14459
This article is an interview with Professor Masahiro Kawakami, who taught Nobuyuki Tsujii for 12 years.
In it, he talks about his teaching method, his first impression of Nobu, and his view of Nobu's personality.
It is a tribute to piano teachers.
I have the utmost respect for Mr. Kawakami, and this article reinforce my admiration.
I made a rough English translation, which can be found at => How Professor Masahiro Kawakami taught Nobuyuki Tsujii
♪ "彼の演奏は音楽の"本質"そのものです His performance is the essence of music itself"
Thanks to Yuki for this tweet:
https://twitter.com/yuki171208021/status/997846509784678401
「ぶらあぼ」アシュケナージ氏 インタビューより
「彼は音楽家としてもピアニストとしても素晴らしい」
「…彼の演奏は音楽の"本質"そのものです」アシュケナージ氏が辻井さんの事をここまで語っているのは珍しい気がします。
http://ebravo.jp/digitalmagazine/bravo/201806/html5m.html#page=43
Vladimir Ashkenazi Interview
"He is a wonderful musician and pianist"
"... his performance is the" essence "of music itself." It seems unusual thus far for Maestro Ashkenazy to talk about Mr. Tsujii.
I too have noticed that in Japanese news articles, Ashkenazy is not often quoted with comments on Nobu, so it is nice to see this quote, although I believe in Japan he performs only with Nobu as soloist.
The ebravo article where the quote appears is a promotion for the Iceland Symphony Orchestra Japan tour later this year, for which tickets have come on sale.
♪ May 24 Special Screening of film "Forest of Wool & Steel" attended by the Emperor & Empress of Japan
A special screening of the piano-themed film "Forest of Sheep and Steel" was held in Tokyo on this day, graced by Japan's Emperor & Empress.
https://kamakura.keizai.biz/gpnews/560567/ [Kyodo News]
天皇、皇后両陛下は24日午後、東京都港区内の映画館で、親交のあるピアニスト辻井伸行さんがエンディングテーマを演奏した映画「羊と鋼の森」を鑑賞された。終了後、辻井さんら映画関係者と懇談もした。
映画は、ピアノの調律師の成長を描いた作品。両陛下は後半部分から鑑賞した。天皇陛下は上映後、隣に座っていた橋本光二郎監督に「とても良い映画を見させていただきました」と感想を語った。
懇談した主演の俳優山崎賢人さんは、皇后さまから撮影場所について尋ねられた。辻井さんは陛下から「どのようなイメージでこの曲を演奏されたのですか」と聞かれたという。
"The Majesty was heard to ask Mr. Tsujii, 'What kind of image did you have when you played this song?' " Nobu plays the ending theme for the film, composed by Japan's famous composer Joe Hisaishi.
https://kamakura.keizai.biz/gpnews/560567/ [Mamakura Economic News]
映画「羊と鋼の森」の特別試写会会場に到着され、エンディング・テーマを演奏するピアニストの辻井伸行さんと握手される天皇陛下と皇后さま＝２４日午後、東京都港区（代表撮影）【時事通信社】（2018-05-24）
Emperor Akihito of Japan shook hands with Nobuyuki Tsujii at a special preview screening held in Tokyo of the piano-themed film "Forest of Sheep and Steel "
A photo album here => https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2112076/photo/8/ [Oricon Japan]
♪ Nobu the "Global Pianist"
In Japan, it seems the attribute "global" or "world class" is very important to musicians.
This Yura tweet makes the case to support the attribute for Nobu
https://twitter.com/icoyuraco/status/998897823692218368
辻井伸行’18
🌟海外公演
☆2/1.2.4 🇬🇧イギリス
☆4/20 🇮🇸アイスランド☆4/26.27 🇬🇧イギリス☆6/2.3.4.5 🇦🇹ウィーン☆6/20.24 🇷🇺ロシア
☆8/5 🇩🇪ドイツ
☆8/8 🇫🇷フランス
☆9/14.20 🇺🇸NY他
☆12/17🇫🇷パリ
☆6.7.8.9.10.11月🇯🇵日本
🌟多種多様コンサートhttp://www.nobupiano1988.com/
2018 overseas performances: Feb UK; April Iceland,U.K.; June Austria, Russia; August Germany, France; September USA; December Paris.
And, I might add these known 2019 overseas performances: Jan 30 London; Feb 14 Berlin; May 27 Germany https://sites.google.com/site/nobufans/home/nobuyuki-concerts
No wonder Nobu' manager said he's on a never-ending jet lag ^_^
♪ May 21 Matuso Instrument Steinway Salon interviews Nobu
Nobu is a busy boy -- the news just keeps coming from Japan!
This is a fresh and excellent piece posted by a fine musical instrument store in Tokyo => here
Many nice photos. The text touches on Nobu's recent activities including performances with Vladimir Ashkenazy, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the new CD, the film about piano tuners. Nobu is asked about his opinions on the choice of pianos and the importance of piano tuners.
I made a translation, which can be found at Nobuyuki Tsujii at the MATSUO MUSICAL INSTRUMENT COMPANY - May 20 2018
Photo caption: [Nobu] with Petrenko & Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra CD
[I am amused by the expression on the face of Nobu in this photo -- he is staring straight ahead, smiling with lips closed. To me he has a look of mischief, what the Japanese call "tea-eye" ^_^]
♪ May 20 Film "Forest of Sheep & Steel" screening
https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2018052000564&g=etm
The film "Forest of Sheep & Steel" had a screening ceremony on this day, and Nobu was featured. He performed on the piano the theme music of the film.
Tons of photos, including a photo album posted by the Mainichi [Everyday] News => https://mainichi.jp/graphs/20180520/hpj/00m/040/003000g/1
Here is one of Nobu, seated, in the center, surrounded with the films director and actors, standing. Nobu didn't quite get the hand waving right :-)
[He has his hand stretched out waving horizontally instead of up like everyone else.] Waving is, understandably, not an instinctive gesture for the blind.
Background info about this film here => Joe Hisaishi and Nobuyuki Tsujii first collaboration
And no sooner than I posted a tweet about that funny hand waving of Nobu than this tweet came up
https://twitter.com/ninoyuya2/status/998302964551843840
It comes with a video clip of a TV spot about the ceremony, and at the end of it you can clearly see Nobu waving his hand horizontally.
He looks happy and that funny hand waving probably further endears him to the Japanese viewers.
I repeat: Nobu can do no wrong in Japan ^_^
♪ 2017 Paris documentary rebroadcast May 20th, with extra footage
"Nobuyuki Tsujii in Paris" was one of the many year-end specials about Nobu that were aired on Japan TV.
This was a terrific show about Nobu's visit to Paris last fall, for his recital in the Theatre de Champs Elysees on October 23. It includes footage of the recital as well as a visit to the Polish Museum in Paris and to the country estate of George Sands.
An expanded version of this documentary is scheduled to be aired by Fuji-BS on May 20 2018. Nobu's performance of Chopin's op. 10 12 etudes will be shown in full.
BSフジ「辻井伸行×パリ ショパンが舞い降りた夜」完全版放送。 5月20日（日）13:30～15:55 ★この完全版では、辻井がパリで演奏したショパンの12の
http://www.bsfuji.tv/tsujii/pub/007.html
English information => "Nobuyuki Tsujii in Paris" 2017 documentary -- synopsis
Today is Sunday and the rebroadcast apparently was watched, judging by the number of tweets that have come up.
Yura watched the rebroadcast and tweeted
https://twitter.com/icoyuraco/status/998101891383885824
辻井伸行🇫🇷パリ公演⭐️今回ノーカット完全版放送は、ほぼ本来の演奏シーンばかりで素晴らしい番組構成になった。バラ1、カンパネラ、親友との2台のピアノ演奏、英雄ポロネーズ、12のエチュード全曲、ラスト革命を弾く指には特に痺れた。渾身の演奏後の清々しい表情も観れたしとても感動的でした
Nobuyuki Tsujii in Paris documentary ⭐️ The uncut complete version broadcast this time was a wonderful program with almost the original performance scenes. Roses 1[?], Campanella, two piano performances with his best friend, Heroic Polonaise, 12 Etude songs, and the fingering of the "revolution" was especially spectacular. I also saw a fresh expression after the performance of whole body and I was moved very much.
♪ How Professor Masahiro Kawakami taught Nobuyuki Tsujii
https://the-liberty.com/article.php?item_id=14459
This article is an interview with Professor Masahiro Kawakami, who taught Nobuyuki Tsujii for 12 years.
In it, he talks about his teaching method, his first impression of Nobu, and his view of Nobu's personality.
It is a fascinating read for any piano teacher and, of course, for all Nobu fans.
I have the utmost respect for Mr. Kawakami, and this article reinforce my admiration.
I made a rough English translation, which can be found at => How Professor Masahiro Kawakami taught Nobuyuki Tsujii
♪ "Ark Classics" festival will be broadcast live on site for public enjoyment for free.
Nobu fan Yuki noticed this mentioning in an even more detailed article about the "Ark Hills Classic" Press Conference held on May 14.
http://ebravo.jp/archives/44200
なお、期間中、アーク・カラヤン広場にはスクリーンが設置され、「ARKクラシックス」の公演は、パブリックビューイングという形で同時中継され、無料で楽しむことができるという。During the period, a screen will be set up at Ark · Karajan Square, and the performances of "ARK Classics" will be broadcasted live for public enjoyment for free.
Reportedly this is a first for the festival, which is celebrating it's 8th anniversary.
This is apparently a laudable outreach effort based on the popularity of Nobu & Fumi.
♪ Another performance with the Orpheus this fall revealed
Another performance of Nobu with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in the U.S. has shown up - September 14 8PM at the Williams Center for the arts, Easton Pennsylvania.
All 3 known performances all on the East Coast of the U.S. (I am on the West Coast 😐)
September 2018 U.S. Tour with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra,Chopin piano Concerto No. 2 --
September 14 8PM Williams Center for the arts, Easton Pennsylvania https://williamscenter.lafayette.edu/orpheus-with-nobuyuki-tsujii/
September 20 8PM the Carnegie Stearn Auditoriumhttp://orpheusnyc.org/event/gentle-giants-nobuyuki-tsujii-piano/
September 21 SUNY (State University New York) Schenectady County Community College
♪ May 17 Flowers for Sado-san and his Tonkuenstler Orchestra
https://twitter.com/hakushikiten/status/997107644908290048
Flower tribute from Nobuyuki Tsujii to Conductor Yutaka Sado & his Tonkuenstler Orchestra, who are also touring Japan this month. (It just goes to show how rich the classical music scene is in Japan and especially in Tokyo.)
In June this team will perform in Austria, with Nobu as soloist => Nobu & Sado in Austria 2018 -- news, comments, etc.
Followup: On May 18 the
Tonkuenstler Orchestra posted a gracious note acknowledging this tribute
https://twitter.com/Tonkuenstler/status/997438783401312256
東京では素晴らしい@サントリーホールで演奏でき、大変光栄です！辻井伸行さん、お花のご挨拶をありがとうございます。もうすぐ開かれるオーストリアでの４公演で会いましょう
What a pleasure to perform at the fantastic @suntoryhall in Tokyo! Many thanks to Nobuyuki Tsujii for wonderfully greeting our Musik Director @yutakaSADO_news & us with flowers. See you soon for 4 concerts @Musikverein @Grafenegg @FESTSPIELHAU
♪ May 16 Amazon Japan: 6th hot new classical release & only 11 copies left
Nobu's new CD with Vasily Petrenko & the Liverpool Phil is now 6th on Amazon Japan's classical music new release chart, and there are only 11 copies left in stock.
♪ 2017 Paris documentary rebroadcast May 20th, with extra footage
"Nobuyuki Tsujii in Paris" was one of the many year-end specials about Nobu that were aired on Japan TV.
This was a terrific show about Nobu's visit to Paris last fall, for his recital in the Theatre de Champs Elysees on October 23. It includes footage of the recital as well as a visit to the Polish Museum in Paris and to the country estate of George Sands.
An expanded version of this documentary is scheduled to be aired by Fuji-BS on May 20 2018. Nobu's performance of Chopin's op. 10 12 etudes will be shown in full.
BSフジ「辻井伸行×パリ ショパンが舞い降りた夜」完全版放送。 5月20日（日）13:30～15:55 ★この完全版では、辻井がパリで演奏したショパンの12の
http://www.bsfuji.tv/tsujii/pub/007.html
English information => "Nobuyuki Tsujii in Paris" 2017 documentary -- synopsis
♪ May 8 Orpheus Chamber Orchestra 2018-19 Season Preview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R35UklEz5ug
"Our first concert is with pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, who has become a real friend of the orchestra."
"This pianist from Japan is obviously blind, he learns everything by ear; marvelous, marvelous player ..."
♪ Maestrao Ashkenazy on the Iceland Symphony Orchestra Japan Tour
This video was apparently filmed when Mr. Ashkenazy was in Kanazawa last week.
In the video, Maestrao Ashkenazy speaks in English [thankfully not dubbed over] about his enthusiasm for the tour, and praises the high level of music in Japan.
♪ May 11 A performance with the Orpheus at SUNY (State University New York) Schenectady on Sept 21
There is a little bit of news for Nobu's U.S. fans.
We know that Nobu will open the 2018-19 season for the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra on September 20 in the Carnegie Hall.
This morning there is this mentioning in a newspaper about a performance at the SUNY (State University New York) Schenectady County Community College:
"Sept. 21: The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra will perform music of Arvo Part, Tchaikovsky and Theofanidis, plus Chopin's Concerto No. 2 with soloist Nobuyuki Tsujii, the blind Japanese pianist who tied for the gold medal at the 2009 Van Cliburn Competition."
When Nobu performed in the Carnegie Hall with the Orpheus in U.S., 2014 , they made performances at SUNY as well as at the Lafayette College in Pennsylvania.
♪ May 9 Nobu with Liverpool Phil CD
Released just in time for the @liverpoolphil Japan tour with Nobuyuki Tsujii & @FumiakiMiura: a new CD of U.K. recordings of Nobu's performances of Grieg's Concerto & Rachmaninov's Paganini Rhapsody -- now in stores, online and presumably at tour venues.
タワーレコード神戸店⊿ @TOWER_Kobe tweeted:
【CLASSIC今週注目新譜】 #辻井伸行 さんの最新新譜「グリーグ／ピアノ協奏曲イ短調」入荷！共演は、２０１５年に共に全国ツアーを行ったヴァシリー・ペトレンコ＆ロイヤル・リヴァプール・フィル。強い絆で結ばれた、まさに息もピッタリの名伴奏を展開。心温まる、情感豊かな感動的演奏です
【CLASSIC noteworthy new release this week】 # Nobuyuki Tsujii's latest new album 'Grieg / Piano Concerto in A minor' arrived! Co-star is Vasily Petrenko & Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, who toured the whole country together in 2015. Tied with a strong bond, they have developed a perfect synergy. Heartwarming, emotionally moving, touching performance
♪ Top-50 Treasure of Japan
This is "Golden Week" in Japan, a week of public holidays, and a time for [silly] TV shows such as one aired on May 1 presenting a list of Japan's "Top 50 National Treasures."
Apparently the ranking is determined by invited audience votes, so it's not to be taken seriously.
Yes, Nobu made it, at no. 23, with 73 votes ^_^ Topping the list is champion male figure skater Hanyu (1373 votes). Other recognizable names are Takeshi Kitano (6th, 250 votes), Seiji Ozawa (7th, 227 votes), female figure skater Mao Asada (9th, 142 votes), Joe Hisaishi (composer 15th, 108 votes) . You can see the entire list in the photo below.
Yes, squint your eyes and you can see Nobu's photo and name at #23, third column.
Source: http://yorozu-do.com/nipponno-takara/, http://www.anige-sokuhouvip.com/blog-entry-23122.html
♪ Nobu & Fumi - "Artistic Leaders" for the Ark Classics Festival this October
Twitter sunsoon posted a link to a very slick-looking brochure for the "Ark Classics" Chamber Music festival headlined by Nobu & his violinist friend Fumiaki Miura (they are listed as "artistic leaders"), to take place in Tokyo this October.
In the preface, Nobu is quoted as saying 「これからは三浦さんや三浦さんのヨーロッパの仲間たちと一緒にこのARKクラシックスを舞台に、毎年室内楽の魅力を皆さんに紹介していきたいと思います。」 "From now on I would like to introduce, on this annual ARK Classics series, the charm of chamber music, together with Mr. Miura and his European colleagues!"
More at => Nobu & Fumi at ARK Hills Music Week 2018
